Turkey says ties with Germany won't 'deteriorate entirely'

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's prime minister says Ankara intends to take further measures in response to the German Parliament's decision to label as genocide the killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a century ago. But he says no one should expect ties to "deteriorate entirely."

Binali Yildirim said Friday that Germany had made a "historic" error, which it should rectify.

Turkey recalled its ambassador in Berlin for consultations after Thursday's vote. Yildirim didn't specify what else it might do.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event viewed by many scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century.

Turkey disputes the description. It says the toll has been inflated and considers those killed victims of a civil war.